Mother-son duo tell about their passion in dance

Chennai: It is not always that a mother-son dancer duo perform on stage. But here is Niveditha Parthasarathy and her son Pradhyumna (20), who are breaking barriers in the field with a camaraderie that is worth noting.

Niveditha who runs Nivedanam Dance School at Sri Ram Nagar Colony near IIT Madras, in the city had always been passionate about the art while growing up. But it was almost by chance that Pradhyumna was inducted into dance.

“When he was two-and-a-half years old, he performed the role of Krishna without any formal training, at a cultural festival in IIT Madras. I was Yashoda in the same act,” she says, adding, “It was later that when a friend whose daughter Amrithavarshini is of the same age, pointed out that it was essential to inculcate such art forms into children, I inducted him to actual training. She had rued that her child was dancing to film songs that were item numbers, and that it would do good if we could expose them to tradition.”

Here began Pradhyumna’s tryst with Bharatanatyam. He went on to have his Arangetram at the age of 13, just as his mother had done.

The two of them pride in the fact that they have performed at Rashtrapathi Bhavan and in front of the former President of India, A P J Abdul Kalam.

“My son was in class five. I decided to take him along because I knew he loved children,” she recalls.

The song they had danced to, was Maadu Maikum Kanne, one which the late President had enjoyed. He also reportedly asked if their stay was comfortable.

The entire experience had a long standing impression on Pradhyumna, it is learnt.

“I now study B.E Electronic and Communication at MIT college, of which Kalam Sir was an alumnus,” he says.

Speaking about his passion for dance, he quips, “I was initially forced to learn. But eventually started loving it.”

To this, Niveditha adds, “I am more harsh on him than my other students, which tends to put him off at times.”

It may be noted that Pradhyumna also performs the traditional Margam, and is also a part of the orchestra ensemble, doing the Nattuvankam for his mother while she performs.

Niveditha can be reached at 9841109613.

A SCHOOL FOR ALL

Nivedanam currently has 30 students. Apart from Bharatanatyam, the children are taught spirituality and nationalism. They have to learn a patriotic song or one by Bharathiyar. The uniform is stitched using khadhi and handloom.

The school, which has a tag line-Dance for Development has been running for nearly 30 years, and follows the Dhandayudhapani Pillai Bani. It also boasts of doing a programme- Guru Sishya and Vamsa Parampara where three generations of dancers perform.